| Title: | Nancy Wightman, Oakland to John Arnold, Belfast. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3332 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Wightman, Nancy/12 |
| Year | 1845 |
| Sender | Wightman, Nancy |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | Sunday school teacher |
| Sender Religion | Protestant |
| Origin | Oakland, Alabama, USA |
| Destination | Belfast, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Arnold, John |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | D/1771: Presented by Mrs A. E. Arnold, Cheam, Surrey. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9705310 |
| Date | 24/07/1845 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 23:05:97. |
| Word Count | 1986 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Oakland July 24th 1845 My dear friends You may imagine how truly welcome your kind letter was to me, containing so much of real interest to my heart and being, and being the only direct communication I have received of the state of the Alfred Street Sunday School since I left Ireland. I shall not dwell on the accompanying address, I regret that I can only appropriate a part of it myself, but I value it highly as an instance of the love + [and?] charity of my fellow labourers in the Alfred St. School. I was most happy to hear that Doctor Edgar and his family when you wrote I am certain all his good designs will succeed, which have been the subject of prayers and are in accordance with God's will. The power of man cannot thwart them. I trust the Congregation is increasing, and that he is adding to the "Church" of such as shall be saved". It would take many letters to give you even a brief account of all that has happened me since we parted, and permit me now to say, that I afterwards regretted that you were out the evening I called previously to my departure. I naturally became attached to this country during my long residence of fifteen years, although far from the land of my birth. Yet I hope it is the land of my second birth and I have at times enjoyed unspeakable peace in believing, but I still mourn that I have not a more abiding sense of the pardon of my sins. I am now residing on a Plantation, about seven miles from Florence. I was intimately acquainted with Mr & Mrs Collin before I went to Ireland, and always regarded Mr C. [Collin?] from the time he professed Religion as a truly changed man. Mrs Collin is a Scotch lady and of a more lively spirit, and fond of society. They have four Daughters, the oldest (Clara), is fond of study, though only eleven years of age, is far advanced in English, and I expect her to leave me soon to complete her education, the two next in age, are most interesting children, in addition to them I have three little girls whose Father is a neighbouring Planter. They are not so smart, but very good children indeed they are all so obedient and kind hearted that I have great reason to be contented and thankful and on Sabbath evenings I am permitted to collect all the coloured folks I can, both old + [and?] young, to teach + [and?] during the warm weather we will congregate under the shade of the trees. As I have only taught here for three evenings, I shall not give any report but I labour all alone and I expect you will sometimes think of me, + [and?] offer up a petition that the Lord will help my feeble efforts and send the Holy Spirit to "canni[?] of sin", and lead to Jesus as the Saviour of Sinners, a Methodist Preahcer, who, I think is a good man, came once a month, Mr C. [Collins?] would wished to have him more frequently, but his time is too much engaged to permit. I want to hear him catechize the Children & Preach. I was a little acquainted with him, and when Service was over he greeted me as a Sister and we had some conversation about the book. The meeting was literally by the wayside, under the shade offered by a clump of trees, but Mr C. [Collin?] is anxious to get his neighbours to assist in building a suitable place for worship. Last Winter I taught school in Taschania which is situated about four miles on the other side of the Tennepu. This was then the only work I have ever enabled to do in any degree to my own satisfaction. I always thought it would be a very arduous undertaking, but I had a number of most lovely, healthy Christians, some of whom had been well trained by their former teachers. The time allotted for teaching flew over quickly and many of their Parents appeared quite satisfied with their progress after I had been there however, about two months the [th.....ing?] cough seized one after another 'ere I opened the second session in January, Mrs Collin came over and requested me to come to her when it was closed, of course I made my intention to leave known, still I had as many scholars as I wished; the convalescent returned with the assistance of the oldest girl in the school who was preparing for a teacher I got along pleasantly, she was in limited circumstances and studied until 12 Ock [o'clock?]. The evenings are usually sultry and children have more annoyances to contend against than in Ireland but they were of a joyous spirit and in Spring they delighted to bring me --------? [bouquets?] of their choicest flowers. I imagined a considerable moral improvement & quickness in discussing what was good or evil and I had my heart as much engaged in their welfare as if they had been my Sunday School class. I was sorry to leave them, but my expenses were much greater than you would suppose and I was far removed from my dearest friends. I hoped also to do more good to the coloured people in the plantation. I taught them regularly in my school room in Tascumbia. I never could collect many in the morning and for a time discontinued meeting them. I realized that my strength was equal to my day and often taught for four hours without suffering more from fatigue than I did at your school, you will say the time was too protracted that I made it a point to be to be first [sh.....?] and taught them as [------?] is and I never permitted any to depart without some instruction, their attendace was so irregular that it seemed almost like scattering seed on the wind. I am sorry to hear that Mrs Arnold was complaining of her head. I hope she takes all reasonable care of her health. I have been so much distressed with my own head that I know how to sympathize with her and I think I acted wrong in not using some means for my remedy but I concluded my case was hopless, my head often felt as if lead was [------?] in it and I cannot describe the singular confusion of ideal and [---plexity?] I had to make myself intelligible or write a few sentences correctly, I was seldom conscious of having the least moisture on my skin even in crowded meetings where others suffered from heat. This climate has softened my rugged nature, although I never perspire as much as others. The awful thunderstorms once again become familiar to me during the summer months the thermometer ranges from 80 to 90 degrees, it is seldom more than three weeks from 90 to 100. Hitherto we have had cool nights. I cannot live with any comfort without night air. I awake feverish and with violent headache. A disease prevails in this Climate called Bronketos [Bronchitis?] Public speakers especially are more subject to it, but an epidemic now prevails affecting the throat, which has ted great alarm, numbers of the negroes have died of it, a few slight cases have appeared on this Plantation. The sickly season has not yet commenced. I trust the Lord will spare useful lives. I shall always rejoice to hear of your happiness & when leisure permits even a few lines would be most acceptable. You will please give my love to Mrs Arnold, your little family will claim much of your mutual care, may they prove a blessing to you and the Church. Will you be so kind as to present my cordial congratulations to the newly married members of your Church though late they are very sincere. Mr and Mrs McNinch[?], Dr and Mrs Moffet and Mr and Mrs Magill, of the first mentioned I heard a whisper before I left Ireland. I am sure Dr Edgar was much pleased with this accession to his Church, events of this kind are highly honoured in this country, they have a great many elegant parties given to them. I should be happy to hear how Mr Gibson & his family are, Elizabeth & Sarah will be quite grown, Mary was an engaging little girl. Please remember me to Mrs Boyd, Misses Sloane &c. That the Lord may light you in [---?] Basket & Store and make you an instrument in doing much good the sincere desire of your friend Nancy Wightman A few evenings since I was seated with a friend at an open window after a heavy fall of rain [------?] flash of lightning passed between us, the peal of thunder that succeeded seemed as if it would rend the house. A tree near to us was struck. If we were prepared for death it would be a happy transition. It is singular that we can be such thoughtless creatures, standing on the very brink of Eternity. The Lord is gracious and long suffering towards us. As I [came?] up the Mississippi I was sitting at the door of my room which commanded a view of the scenery on the banks of the River. I saw the forked lightning shoot [down?] the heavens, after the thunder ceased I went to the Ladies cabin, they pointed to a tree on the oppostite bank of the River which had been struck, we had then passed it a little way but I saw smoke issuing from it and I was both conscious of feeling heat on my face at the time the lightning flashed. The fourth of July is a day of Jubilee for the Sunday School children. They assembled in our own Church, then repair to the Methodist where the Oration is delivered preceeded by the oldest Sunday School teacher carrying a flag with the national devices + [and?] the inscription "The Field is the World", from thence they proceeded to a shady spot where a profusion of refreshments were spread out provided by the friends and parents of the Children. The day I was present at the feast was closed with sacred music. I have often assisted the Children in studying their Sunday School lesson and considering "the Union Question" admirably calculated to lead both the teacher and the scholar to a faithful investigation of the Truth and I have often mentioned to you that I never felt so well prepared for my work under your system. It is not necessary that the teacher should be fettered by them but they received most useful hints from which they can enlarge as the Spirit gives them utterance. I found Mr Biggan still Superintendent of the Sunday School. He is from the neighbourhood of Belfast and served his time with Mr Neil. Here they only teach in the morning and in the evening Mr B. [Biggan?] attends a cotton factory about two miles from here. You will remember me to all my friends in the Congregation and give my love to Mrs and Miss Burnside. I wrote to the latter and look in vain for a letter. I enclose the receipts for the Sunday School Journal. I did not take a note of the money you gave me but if I am in your debt let me know and I shall send Mr Magill some scraps for his little flock, should you be a few cents in my debt plese purchase a tract or book for the library. I always thought Mr Craig would fill some distinguished place in the Church. Again I am yours N.W. As I have a niece in Florence of the same name please direct c/o Mr John McAlester, Florence, Alabama, United States. 4p. HOL. Signed. ADD. "Mr John Arnold, High Street, Belfast, Ireland". ENDd. per Packet Ship. Postmarked Liverpool Ship. |
